Ireland was still under British rule in 1914.

The Third Home Rule Act was passed in 1912, giving Ireland de facto Home Rule. However, the outbreak of World War I in 1914 prevented the Act from being passed.

The impact of the war on Ireland was immense, with the divide between families, neighbourhoods and friends becoming even more apparent as many were faced with the decision of whether to fight in the British Army or stay at home and fight for independence.

The war period was marked by significant political and social changes, including the rise of Irish nationalism.

However, many young Irish people were keen to take part in the war, whether out of a sense of duty, a thirst for adventure or economic necessity. Recruitment campaigns succeeded in recruiting many young men from Ireland.

In Ireland’s small towns, the conflict raging in Europe was less important than the question of whether they could make ends meet financially.

In my new novel, four young men in Mallow, one of those small towns in Cork, were about to embark on a journey that would have a huge impact on their lives.

Pádraig, Fintan, Donnacha and Seán have been friends since childhood. They formed their mischievous gang, the Fruit Kings, in their early childhood and were often seen walking together on the paths of the city.

As they became teenagers, the town they grew up in underwent a significant change that would forever alter their young lives. The four young members of the Fruit Kings were forced to make decisions that divided their loyalties and tested their long-standing friendships.

My book “Last Of The Fruit Kings” is a story of love, hate and sadness. The political turmoil of young people is portrayed through the eyes of four boys from a small Irish town.

From their mischievous youth, in which they narrowly escaped arrest and punishment, the story takes us to Belgium and France before ending with the heroic rise of a nationalist uprising.

All Fruit Kings are affected in some way by having to grow up faster than one would expect.

History shows us the importance of friends, family and stubborn loyalty, which have devastating consequences after the Easter Rising of 1916.

I was born in Churchfield, Cork City but now live in Manchester, England.

After leaving Cork in the 1990s, I moved to London and then began a journey supporting aid organisations in war zones for several years.

I then traveled around Europe and the US, mostly busking and playing in bars and enjoying the freedom that traveling alone gave me.

I am interested in Irish military history and have a Masters in First World War Studies from the University of Birmingham.

My dissertation on the 16th Irish Division in the First World War gave me sufficient knowledge to write my new novel.

The book represents a departure from my usual crime writing style.

I have always had a keen interest in true crime and crime novels, and Lyngate Woods, my first book, a psychological thriller, told the story of a serial killer driven by hatred for the abuse of his former girlfriends.

My latest book is a bit of a departure from crime fiction. It’s one that I had written in my head for some time but never got around to putting down on paper. I’m so pleased that I’ve managed to tell the story of the impact that the war and the Easter Rising might have had on people outside of Ireland’s big cities.

We know the famous names associated with these events such as Éamon de Valera, Michael Collins, Padraig Pearse etc. I wanted to put this into a more local context and perhaps show what the day to day fighting might actually have been like.

The book is a fictional account of possible events, but hopefully will give people food for thought about the normalisation of the First World War and the Easter Rising, whilst also providing them with an entertaining read.

Fintan is our main character and the story is seen mainly through his eyes. He sees some of his contemporaries during this time getting married, joining the army or fighting and he too has to make a decision.

This book has something for everyone with its romance, sadness and suspense. I hope people enjoy it.

I will continue to write crime novels, but my next book will also have a connection to my hometown and will hopefully be published before the end of the year.

“Last Of The Fruit Kings” is currently available as a paperback and Kindle from Amazon.